Parenting Support - Universal Services
These services are available to everyone. You do not have to meet any criteria except be a mother, father or carer of a child or young person.
- Brakenhale Open Learning Centre
- Children's Centres
- Children's Information Centre
- Children's Services Directory
- Extended Services
- Health Visitors
- School Nurses
- Share and Share Plus Programmes
- Local Churches
Brakenhale Open Learning Centre
This centre runs a family learning programme that includes parenting skills, paediatric first aid and a course to help mothers, fathers and carers to support children in their early primary school years. There are also regular activity sessions during half term and school holidays.
Children’s Centres
There is a network of children’s centres across the Borough offering support and advice to families with young children aged 0-5. You can get help and advice during and after your pregnancy right through to when your child is preparing to start school, as well as meeting and talking to other mums and dads. Children’s Centres offer a range of services, from meeting with a midwife/health visitor, advice on breastfeeding, support and advice on parenting, baby massage classes and support for developing healthy lifestyles.
Each centre provides a range of services depending on local need and parental choice so not all centres are the same. They are a good place to meet and talk to the services that you need, as well as to meet other parents/carers and find out what else is happening in your community.
Children’s Information Centre
The Children's Information Centre are an independent charity offering free information and guidance to parents and carers of children. They are contracted to provide the Family Information Service. This is based in the Family Tree Nursery in the town centre but staff from there also make regular visits to Children’s Centres and other local community venues. It is a one-stop-shop for guidance on all child related issues and acts in a sign-posting capacity when necessary. They also manage a database of information on all parenting support services in the area. This can be accessed through the Children’s Information Centre and through the community outreach service.
Children’s Services Directory
This electronic directory provides information about services and organisations offering support and advice on a wide range of health, family, social care and education issues, both within Bracknell Forest and nationally.
Extended Services
Extended Services provide a range of services and activities, often beyond the school day, to help meet the needs of children, their families and the wider community. Extended services can include childcare, adult education, parenting support programmes, community-based health and social care services, multi-agency behaviour support teams and after-school activities.
Health Visitors
The Health Visitor is a Qualified Registered Nurse with Specialist qualifications in Community Health, which includes child health, health promotion and education. Every family with children under 5 has a named health visitor who can be contacted through your GP though in Bracknell, some health visitors are now based in Children’s Centres. Some run special parenting courses using the Solihull Approach. More information can be found on the local Primary Care Trust website.
School Nurses
Every maintained school in Bracknell Forest has access to a school nurse. School nurses can bring valuable expertise to schools, providing confidential health advice for children and young people, reviewing the health of the school population and working with schools to create an environment that promotes healthy living. All Bracknell school nurses have undertaken training in the Solihull approach and can advise mothers, fathers and other primary carers on managing their child’s behaviour. You can contact the school nurse through your child’s school.
Share and Share Plus Programmes
Share is a fun programme that encourages fathers, mothers, carers, children, teachers, managers, facilitators and anybody else involved to all work together with the aim of improving partnerships, numeracy and literacy, self-esteem, confidence and social interaction within the community. It has been provided in some areas through Children’s Centres or Extended Services. Further information about Share and Share Plus
Local churches
Several local churches provide support to parents through parenting courses, support groups etc. Some of these are open to all parents and some are targeted at specific groups with particular needs.
Try the following:
Bracknell Family Church (The Kerith Centre)
Easthampstead Baptist Church
Great Hollands Free Church
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